Shoe-tongue fastener.



no. 728,959. PATBNTBD MAY 26, 1903.

B. MORSE.

SHOE TONGUE FASTENER- APPLIOATIO! rum) SEPT. :7, 19oz.

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UNTTn STATES Patented May 26, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

MIRA B. MORSE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

SHOE-TONG U E FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 728,959, dated May 26, 1903. Application filed September 27, 1902- SerialNo.125,039. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that LMIRA B. MORSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Tongue Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an attachment for the tongues of shoes to engage the shoe laces and hold the tongue from lateral displacement when on the foot.

The object also is to provide a neat and ornamental device which will be cheap to manufacture and of easy application to the shoetongue.

I accomplish the objects of the invention by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a shoe with my invention applied; Fig. 2, a View in side elevation of the staple or fastener detached from the shoe; Fig. 3, a perspective View of the stiEening-plate used with the staple, and Fig. I a detail in longitudinal section of a shoe-tongue provided with my invention.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

A represents the shoe, B the tongue, and O the laces, all of usual and well-known construction.

D is a staple, preferably made of wire bent in the form shown. It is desired that the cross-bar of the staple be retained a suitable distance away from the tongue to which it is fastened in order to provide a projection which, placed between the meeting edges of the split in the front of the shoe, will hold the tongue to whichv the staple is fastened from lateral displacement and also to provide an eyelet through which the laces of the shoe are threaded in order to keep the eyelet or staple from withdrawal from the slot in the shoefront. To retain the staple with its crossbar thus projecting out from the tongue of the shoe, I provide the shoulders (Z (1, formed by bending the stemsof the staple inwardly and then downwardly, and these shoulders gage the distance or amount of stem that can be projected through the shoe-tongue. As thesubstance of the tongue is soft and yielding, inasmuch as itis made out of thin leather, I reinforce it by placing a thin metal plate E over the tongue where the staple is to be applied and by passing the stems of the staple through suitable perforations formed for that purpose through the plate. This plate forms a solid stop for the shoulders of the staple to rest against. The ends of the stems are carried thence through the tongue and are clenched on the under side of the tongue in the manner shown in Fig. 4E. The long dimension of the head of the staple is set 1ongitudinally of the shoe-tongue, and the staple is set at the crossing of the laces, as shown in Fig. 1, and may be placed at one or more points and at any desired height of the shoe.

In order to present as pleasing appearance as possible, I may ornament the outer or crossbar of the fastener by corrugating or crimping the wire, as shown, or said bar may be engraved with a pleasing design or may be provided with an attractive jewel setting.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a shoe-tongue holder, a staple having a cross-bar and stems bent inwardly parallel with said cross-bar to form open bends at either end of said bar and then downwardly parallel but not in contact with each other to form shoulders at said last bends.

2. In a shoe-tongue holder, the combination, with a staple having a cross-bar and stems bent inwardly parallel with said cross-bar to form open bends at either end of said bar, and then downwardly parallel but not in contact with each other to form shoulders at said last bends, of a stiffening and strengthening plate having perforations through whichthe stems are inserted.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 23d day of September, A. D. 1902.

MIRA B. MORSE. [L. 8.]

\Vitnesses:

JOSEPH A. MINTURN, JOHN B. SHERWOOD. 

